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Wednesday, December 27

A Blessed New Year

Dear Friends,

As we get ready to turn the calendar page and look forward to the promises of 2018, I want to thank so many of you for being such a blessing to our congregation and communities in 2017.

This year concluded in wondrous ways for our faith community. Over four services on Christmas Eve, we had over 700 people praising our newborn king. I have received many positive comments about the energy in the room at worship and especially the power, grace, and beauty expressed in the music. A big thanks to Janice Stickley and our children and youth, Marcella Curtiss and our choirs, Lynette Becattini for all of her work behind the scenes, and all of you who volunteered so much of your time during the Advent and Christmas season. Also, a huge word of thanks is extended for your financial support throughout the year and especially on Christmas Eve where we experienced tremendous generosity The way you have opened your hands, your hearts,and your voices has brought more blessings to people in this community and abroad than you will ever know.

This Sunday, New Year's Eve, we will have one Worship Service at 10 AM (No Saturday worship)

Next Sunday, January 7, we will celebrate the Baptism of our Lord as we return to our regular worship schedule with worship at 5 PM on Saturday, Sunday Worship at 8:15 & 11 AM, and Christian Education on Sunday at 9:30 AM.

Also on Sunday, January 7 we begin two new exciting adult education gatherings at 9:30 AM:

Forgotten God (meeting downstairs in Jerusalem Room)

The Holy Spirit is the least understood (and often forgotten) member of the Trinity and yet is that part of God that is closest to us and impacts us most directly. Join us as we continue this fascinating study and exploration of our faith.

Psalms (meeting upstairs in Daniel's Den)

An overview of well known songs of praise, prayer, thanksgiving, lament, trust, and deliverance. Our time together will include introductions to the structure of the Psalms, when and how many of these Psalms were used in ancient times, and how they inform our worship together today.

Finally, I make a sad face as I inform you that Christmas decorations will start coming down on Thursday January 4 at 6:30 PM. Time marches on and while admittedly it is not as much fun as putting the decorations up, the company is just as good. If you would be willing to help, it would be greatly appreciated.

The month of December was quite a ride for us. Now it's time to follow Jesus through the joys and challenges of 2018. A blessed New Year to all. See you in church!